A17183:277
Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)
Fifty godly and learned sermons divided into five decades, containing the chief and principal points of Christian religion, written in three several tomes or sections, by Henry Bullinger minister of the church of Tigure in Switzerland. Whereunto is adjoined a triple or three-fold table very fruitful and necessary. Translated out of Latin into English by H.I. student in divinity.Fiftie godlie and learned sermons diuided into fiue decades, conteyning the chiefe and principall pointes of Christian religion, written in three seuerall tomes or sections, by Henrie Bullinger minister of the churche of Tigure in Swicerlande. Whereunto is adioyned a triple or three-folde table verie fruitefull and necessarie. Translated out of Latine into English by H.I. student in diuinitie.
London: printed by Henry Middleton for Ralph Newberrie, 1577London: printed by Henry Middleton for Ralphe Newberrie, 1577
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
So then, I say, Abraham was strong in faith, that is, he prevailed and got the upper hand in his temptation. For, this ⟨p. 35⟩is an argument to show that he had the upper hand: He fainted not, nor waxed weak in faith. It followeth in the Apostle, Abraham gave God the glory, to wit, in believing that God wisheth well to man kind, and that he is a true God and almighty.
So then, I saye, Abraham was stronge in fayth, that is, he preuayled and gotte the vpper hande in his temptacion. For, this ⟨p. 35⟩is an argument to shewe that he had the vpper hande: He faynted not, nor waxed weake in fayth. It followeth in the Apostle, Abraham gaue God the glorie, to wit, in beleeuing that God wisheth well to man kinde, and that he is a true God and almighty.
For he giveth God his glory, which attributeth to God the properties of God, and doeth not gainsay the word and promise of God. For John the Apostle saith: He that believeth not in God, maketh God a liar, Abraham therefore believed in God, and in believing gave God the glory. The Apostle Paul goeth forward and saith. He was throughly persuaded, or certified, that he which had promised was able also to perform. Paul used the Greek word [Greek or Hebrew], which is all one as if you should say, being certified. For, [Greek or Hebrew] doeth signify fully to certify: whereupon [Greek or Hebrew] is an assured faith given unto us which is made by way of argument, or by the thing it self, And they call that [Greek or Hebrew], which we call a certification, as when a thing by persuasions is so beaten into our minds, that after that we never doubt any more. Therefore faith did certify Abraham, and with undoubted persuasions did bring him to the point, never to doubt, but that God was able to perform what he had promised: in faith therefore he stuck unmoveably to the promise of God, being assuredly certified that he should obtain whatsoever God had promised.